‘With my weakened immune system I was glad of the vaccine’ Nicole Ratcliffe lives with a long-term condition – but needs to stay healthy to look after her daughters and run a business

Mum of two Nicole, 41, has lived with ulcerative colitis since she was in her 20s and, like many others with a weakened immune system, she says keeping up to date with her Covid and flu vaccinations is vital.

“Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation of the colon, and if I have a flare-up I can get quite poorly, with bleeding and a need to go to the toilet around 30 times a day, which can result in hospital stays,” says Nicole, from Manchester, mum to Sofia, six, and Alyssia, two. “No one can live like that, so I have regular doses of immunosuppressants.

“Running my baby sleep coaching business Baby2sleep, and having two little kids, there’s no way I can function when I’m poorly.”

Nicole was waiting for a message from her GP to call her for the Covid vaccine – and when she was also offered the flu vaccine on the same day, she was glad to take both.

“With my weakened immune system, I was so relieved to get my vaccinations. I always make sure I’m up to date and have a flu jab every year.

“I was worried that if I caught Covid I might end up in hospital, unable to look after the kids.” Nicole is glad she can live life to the full, knowing she’s protected. “It’s true that the vaccine doesn’t always stop you getting Covid, but it does stop you getting very ill with it, which is what’s important to me. To date I have had Covid twice after my vaccinations and been fine.”